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Raccoon dog

Nyctereutes procyonoides

Description:

The raccoon dog is considered a basal canid species, resembling ancestral forms of the family. Among the Canidae, the raccoon dog shares the habit of regularly climbing trees only with the North American gray fox, another basal species. The raccoon dog is named for its resemblance to the raccoon (Procyon lotor), to which it is not closely related. Native East Asian raccoon dog populations have declined in recent years due to hunting, fur trade, urbanization, an increase of animals associated with human civilization such as pets and abandoned animals, and diseases that may be transmitted between them. Following its introduction into central and western Europe, however, it has been treated as a potentially hazardous invasive species. (Wiki)

Notes:

Unfortunately the raccoon dog is seen as an invasive species in Denmark and may be "adjusted" throughout the year and it is regarded as injurious wildlife

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49 Comments (1–25)

EmilyMarino
EmilyMarino 10 years ago

Um...This is the most awesome thing I have seen all day! Awesome spotting!!!

injica
injica 11 years ago

Wow what a cute creature :) and it looks pretty big or it is just pretty fluffy :)

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Thank you radbrad16, it is not dangerous to humans :)

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Thank you ajfree77 :)

Nothing to be afraid of it is very cute and only the size of a small dog...

ajfree77
ajfree77 11 years ago

Cute but scarey.

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Thank you very much Martin :)

MartinUrban
MartinUrban 11 years ago

What a brilliant series !! Wow !

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Thank you Marta :)

It is not really related to a racoon only it's appearence...

The MnMs
The MnMs 11 years ago

Awesome! I did not know there was raccoons also in Europe. And how nice and fluffy!

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

The same here Stian, they might be right, but I don't think they will ever become a pest as other invasive species sometimes become...

Stian Waaler
Stian Waaler 11 years ago

They are blacklisted because people say the ruin the fauna, but they look so harmless

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

It don't seems right because it looks so cute....

Stian Waaler
Stian Waaler 11 years ago

We have the same name in Norway Jeannette! We have this animal in Northern Norway too but they are blacklisted as unwanted...

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Yes, it is almost the same in Danish, mårhund :) As you can see in my note unfortunately it isn't welcome here...

It was very cute, it reminded me of my dog except for the colour, as he is white :)

junipurr
junipurr 11 years ago

I looked up the word, to see what it was in Swedish. Realized, if it was in northern Finland, they must be in Sweden too, I'd never seen it before and I'm from there! Turned out the word was 'mårdhund', and I have heard that word, but didn't know anything about them. Marvellous ...would love to see one in real life :)

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Yes, they live in Europe but are native from East Asia.

I have edited the description so it's more readable, I agree It wasn't the best copy and paste from wikipedia...

Voddy
Voddy 11 years ago

very interesting animal. dont they live in europe ?

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Thank you junipurr :)

Yes, it is a lovely animal, unfortunately not well seen everywhere...

junipurr
junipurr 11 years ago

What a gorgeous animal! I didn't even know they existed!

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Thank you crobin and patty :)

patty
patty 11 years ago

Its like a mixture between a raccoon, a bear and a dog; it looks so sweet. Nice pictures =)

crobin
crobin 11 years ago

It's simply amazingly unique

Jeannette
Jeannette 11 years ago

Thank you very much António :)

You are welcome tibiprada :)

tibiprada
tibiprada 11 years ago

Jeannette, thanks. got it.. just fantasizing !

AntónioGinjaGinja
AntónioGinjaGinja 11 years ago

great cache Jeannette,what a visison,real good work,congrats tahnks for sharing

Jeannette
Spotted by
Jeannette

Pohjois-Suomi, Finland

Spotted on Feb 17, 2008
Submitted on Jan 4, 2012

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